Historic Bridges in Minnesota
1,035 bridges built before 1951 in Minnesota still in service today.
Bridges Built Before 1951
The United States has 1,035 bridges in Minnesota built before 1951 that remain in active service. These structures are 75+ years old — many predate modern engineering codes and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and vehicle weights. The average design life of a bridge is 50 years, making these aging structures a significant infrastructure concern.
| Bridge | State | Condition | Year Built | Age (Years) | ADT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 77 |
| RICE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 152 |
| MARBLE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 156 |
| PERCH CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 142 |
| PERCH CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 305 |
| MINNEOPA CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 599 |
| BUFFALO CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 953 |
| N FK CROW RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,050 |
| SPUNK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 280 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 880 |
| GETCHELL CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 780 |
| CHETAMBA CREEK (JD #7) | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,450 |
| JUD DITCH # 1 | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| CHETAMBA CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| RICEFORD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 60 |
| COLD CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 530 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 385 |
| HIGH ISLAND CREEK | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 64 |
| TWO RIVERS | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 70 |
| BITTER CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1940 | 86 | 1,000 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 40 |
| STREAM | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 37 |
| TURTLE CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 15 |
| TAMARACK RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1940 | 86 | 180 |
| BASSETT CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1940 | 86 | 1,949 |
| ST JAMES CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,500 |
| GRINDSTONE RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,713 |
| MISS RVR RR STREETS | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,905 |
| MISSISSIPPI RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 14,200 |
| ENCAMPMENT RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 4,763 |
| CLEARWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 4,600 |
| S FK WHITEWATER RIVER | Minnesota | Poor | 1941 | 85 | 1,785 |
| WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 15 |
| N FK CROW RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 3,710 |
| SPELTZ CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 350 |
| WATONWAN RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,300 |
| HIGH ISLAND CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,165 |
| ST JAMES CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,200 |
| COTTONWOOD RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 2,597 |
| EIGHTEEN MILE CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,099 |
| LITTLE CANNON RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,936 |
| BIG CANNON RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,936 |
| BRUSH CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 590 |
| JACK CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 40 |
| BEAR RIVER | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 365 |
| DEMPSEY CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 300 |
| WATERCRESS CREEK | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 15 |
| DITCH | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 120 |
| TROUT RUN | Minnesota | Fair | 1941 | 85 | 1,184 |
| HIGHWATER CREEK | Minnesota | Good | 1941 | 85 | 127 |
About Historic Bridge Data
Bridges built before 1951 are classified as historic in this database. Many were designed to 1940s standards with lower load limits and narrower lanes. While FHWA requires regular inspections of all bridges regardless of age, older structures often require more frequent monitoring and rehabilitation investment.